Monday, February 18, 2019

Putney Swope

Putney Swope is a 1969 comedy directed by Robert Downey, Sr. It's a send-up of the advertising business and race relations in the 60s. Dated. I didn't find it funny and didn't finish it. But your mileage may vary.

trailer:



The Guardian says,
Putney Swope, a scathing, hugely energetic and scattershot satire about the black takeover of a lilywhite Madison Avenue ad agency, made a lot of Top 10 Lists back at the end of the 1960s and then disappeared, seemingly for good. Now it's back, on DVD in the USA and at a screening in London. The chance to reassess it shouldn't be missed by anyone who cherishes the lost movies of a tumultuous era in American history and American cinema.
DVD Talk says, "Putney Swope has both the wit and the willingness to go all the way..." Variety says, "The sharp individual parts do not build to anything and the film, as a piece, is more often dull than exciting, less revealingly witty then merely clever." Rotten Tomatoes has a critics score of 64%.

8 comments:

  1. I'll take your word for it

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    1. Some movies hold up better than others.

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  2. I think I have seen this...or part of it. Really bad, in my opinion.

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    1. It had its day, I suppose, for maybe a day and a half. It certainly hasn't held up well.

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  3. It's too bad we are still talking about race relations nearly 60 years later. We just never learn, and our "fearless leader" doesn't help matters any. Somehow, I expect to see a swastika flag sitting in the White House one of these days. I'll try to catch up now.

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    1. Yes, the rhetoric is just bizarre these days. I'm so happy to see you able to make the rounds. It's kind of you to visit back posts, thx! :)

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  4. Comedies are not on my plan at all, thanks for the warning. Valerie

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    1. It's not funny, if that's any help ;) I can't imagine a good reason to watch it.

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